Augustus Pablo East of The River Nile: Laid back reggae grooves decorated by Pablo’s incredible Melodica playing. Completely instrumental, this album does not need vocals to have a voice. Rating: 15/15 toy instruments
Frank Zappa-Hot Rats
Frank Zappa Hot Rats: A series of jazz-rock masterpieces and a solid rocker with a guest appearance from Captain Beefheart. Zappa composes pieces that touch on a variety of moods and textures often transitioning between various themes quickly, but never in a way that jars the listener. His and his backing bands playing is jaw-droppingly [...]
Steve Reich-Daniel Variations
Steve Reich Daniel Variations: A beautiful piece that transcends the term minimalism. Though the drones and repetition, of minimalism are present Reich toys with them adding subtle changes that eventually evolve into completely different patterns. Reich utilizes a fascinating harmonic language particularly during the first track. He uses dissonant chords to at times create tension, [...]
Kronos Quartet-Plays Sigur Ros
Kronos Quartet Plays Sigur Ros: Its amazing how well stripping down these songs to four acoustic string instruments, and removing the vocals actually works. The music swells and retracts then changes course keeping one completely enamored and interested at what will happen next. One of the true highlights of this album comes when one or [...]
Wayne Kramer-The Hard Stuff+
Wayne Kramer The Hard Stuff+: A clever mix of fuzzed out punk and soul. The lyrics cover a wide range of topics, from Kramer’s personal life, to a mournful farewell to Charles Bukowski. The music is simple enough to be catchy, but intricate enough to hold your interest. As always Kramer’s guitar soloing is loud [...]
Frank Zappa-Wazoo!
Frank Zappa Wazoo: A live disk from Zappa’s 1972 touring band. Twenty members playing everything from marimba to sousaphone do wonderful takes on some Zappa classics. Not until his final tour in 1988 would Zappa have a horn section this powerful again, nor a band so solid. The music is challenging but fun, traversing the [...]
Horse The Band-Pizza
Horse The Band Pizza: The extremely talented and absolutely hilarious Horse The Band parody several genres of metal and hardcore while singing about pizza. After tearing through some well played spoofs with awesome lyrics and a great vocal delivery the ep closes with a cover of The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle theme song. Probably the [...]
The Shadow Ring-Life Review(1993-2003)
The Shadow Ring Life Review(1993-2003): Confrontational buzzing and clanging topped with strange poetry read in a monotone voice. Listening to this disk is a process in and of itself. The music will probably give you a headache, but if you work your way through it the tenseness and pressure that this music builds up provides [...]
Negative Approach-Tied Down
Negative Approach Tied Down: One of the most vicious acts to emerge from 80′s hardcore. John Brannon’s nihilistic lyrics and hoarse yell mesh perfectly with the bands simple yet inventive approach to three chord punk. Unfortunately these guys haven’t been canonized to the extent that Black Flag, Minor Threat and The Dead Kennedys have. Negative [...]
